The Rangers Road to Glory in 1972

Last updated : 02 March 2011

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As a result of the scenes on the pitch The Rangers were banned from European Competion for two years. Waddell appealed this decision, arguing that the police had over-reacted, that the fans were drunk but not intent on violence, and that recent European finals had witnessed rejoicing Celtic, Bayern Munich and Ajax fans running on to the park and those occasions had been deemed acceptable.

As a result of the appeal, the ban was reduced to one year.

Rangers were therefore sadly unable to defend their trophy.

Two weeks after Barcelona, at an Ibrox press Conference, Willie Waddell announced that he was to become general manager and that Jock Wallace would be the new team manager.

As the years have passed and memories fade, the controversary surrounding the crowd trouble became less. What is left is that a team of Scottish players played and beat the best that France, Portugal, Italy, West Germany and the Soviet Union had to offer.

History books point to the fact that this was one of the great European Finals where one side blazed into the lead only to be pegged back and nearly caught in the second-half by a determined opposition.